FINAL NAZI WORD

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22805, 2 September 1939, Page 16

FINAL NAZI WORD

“Willingness To - Negotiate” POLAND GIVEN ALL BLAME Alleged Rejection Of Proposals (mnx*o j press association—copyright.) (Received Sept. 1, 8.30 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. “The Times” says that the German radio broadcast also stated: “The German Note of August 29, accepting the British suggestion of mediation, pointed out that if it,was desired to avoid the danger of a catastrophe it was necessary to act quickly. It received as a reply to Germany’s willingness to negotiate the news of Polish mobilisation and — not before August 31— British assurances of a general character concerning Britain’s willingness to cooperate in bringing about the start of negotiations;

“It cannot be expected that Germany "will ceaselessly express willingness to negotiate, and even make preparations, while Poland seeks to protract the affair by subterfuges and futile statements.

“It transpires from the demarche made meanwhile by the Polish Ambassador that neither he nor anyone else was authorised to discuss or negotiate, Thus the Fuehrer waited in vain for two days for the arrival of a Polish plenipotentiary, and he considers that the proposals were rejected though they were

capable of fulfilment in the form submitted to the British Government.

"The situation between the Reich and Poland is such that any fresh incident may lead to the releasing of the military forces in position on one side or the other.” '

According to the * German radio version, the British Government on August 28, expressed readiness to mediate between Germany and Poland. Germany agreed to wait --until the evening of August 30 to receive a plenipotentiary from Poland. News of Polish mobilisation came instead.

“Herr von Ribbentrop, the German Foreign Minister, in view of the British desire of opening negotiations, notified the British Ambassador (Sir Nevile Henderson) of the terms Germany proposed as a basis; but from the Polish side came only evasive declarations,” stated the German broadcast. “Any peaceful solution must be such as will not occasion a repetition' of these events and plunge Eastern Europe and other countries into similar tension.

“The causes of this development reside first in the untenable demarcation of frontiers created by * the Versailles Treaty; and second, in the impossible treatment of minorities in the severed regions of the Reich, The Government therefore based its proposals on the idea of finding a final solution, ending the untenable demarcation, that would ensure the parties’ indispensable communications and settle as far as possible the minority problem

by guaranteeing, the rights minorities.” . ■ ;, The spokesman at the Embassy, in London said: ‘There i»vA no time limit to - the acceptance , of'iff the 16 points.' ’ They are not a mand, but merely, a basis of negoti-.£s ation, but the attitude of the in not sending a delegation to Berlin'**! amounts tp a refusal to negotiate. “If they do not come soon, we do’.| , |J not know what will happen!;- WeM are still awaiting definite'ireplylp from Poland 1 . ‘,’ V ’ “We * are .willing to negotiate and.':&. ; are prepared to accept the of the plebiscite ! if it goes againstjjpf us. Whatever happens, we mustVg|i have free communication with EastMi? Prussia just as the Poles have tdiji l Gdynia.” , . ' Cjgi The broadcast created great citement in London. Special ’edi'.ittions of the newspapers wepj|&f snatched from the hands ‘ of newsboys. POLES AND LEAVE BULGARIA (Received September 1, 9.30" pjnf : ‘ SbITA, September^l^All German and Polish have been recalled' from Bulgaria. SWISS . NEUTBALITtSf ■ .• '■ ' _ - ; • i-i, (Received. September 1, 7 'pan.3^l BERNE, August .31.. Switzerland is sending Germany, Italy and France, taining declarations of neutrality.